Monitoring of Philippines outsourcing, business, and political developments.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Legazpi City as Web Development & SEO Outsourcing Hub

I was in Legazpi City last February 6 and 7 for the Search Engine Marketing Conference Bicol event. After the event, we visited several places and one of them is Embarcadero IT Park being developed by Embarcadero Land Ventures Inc. (ELV). This is a spot intended to become an information technology and modern trading hub in a sea front environment (Legazpi Port Area).

The IT park is part of the 15,477 square meter Embarcadero de Legazpi. It is already recognized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as an Economic Tourism Zone with IT component. It aims to host an estimated 8,000 seat call center on its 1st building.

Australian company BN Group Property Ltd. is the masterplanner of the project. It is conceptualized from the Fisherman's Wharf in California and Sydney Marina in Sydney Australia.

During the E-Services Philippines event, I also got the chance to catch up with Albay ICT Association president and Legazpi City ICT Council chairperson Rosemarie Quinto-Rey who also desires for the city to be known as a major outsourcing center for web development and search engine optimization projects. Companies such as Content Online Services Inc. and SLTCFI Business Solutions specializes in this area.

About Me

Janette Toral is the site owner of DigitalFilipino.com. At her highest value, she delivers independent insights through research, education, training, e-learning, consulting, public speaking.

She is a Fascinate Certified Advisor, Certified ScrumMaster, and Certified Scrum Product Owner.

She participated in the IVLP or International Visitors Leadership Program 2011 (individual program) sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. Featured as 1 of the 6 women innovator at the APEC Women and Economy Summit 2011, San Francisco, USA.

She got recognized as Champion of Philippine Internet and E-Commerce Hall of Fame Award given by Asian Institute of E-Commerce in 2010; Globe Tattoo Digital Elder Award 2009; E-Services E-Champion Awards 2008 - Policy and Legal Category by the Department of Trade and Industry / CITEM / Board of Investments; International Schools Cyberfair Ambassador Award 2004 and 2002 given by Global Schoolnet USA; World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) Philippines Awards 2003 E-Learning Category for her E-Commerce Workshop Online.

Janette, as former technical consultant / executive director of the Congressional Oversight Committee for the E-Commerce Law, was instrumental for the creation of policies in the area of consumer protection (value added services, e-commerce, electronic banking), data privacy for the private sector, and acceptance of electronic payment in government.

As founding president of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society, she was instrumental for the passage of the Y2K Law and E-Commerce Law. She retired in 2002. Other organizations she served as board member in the past were the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT) and Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP).

She is a distinguished expert for the 2nd Expert Committee of APEC E-Commerce Business Alliance.